Jesse Zhang -- a Sketchbook Conversation

Today's Sketchbook Conversation is with Jesse Zhang who is sharing a peek into her sketchbooks and chatting about the role sketchbooks play in her creative process:

I'm Jesse, a painter and illustrator from Brooklyn, NY. I enjoy drinking lots of tea, watching sci-fi shows, and staying up too late creating. Sketchbooks are so vital as an artist. It's a place for discovery, putting down all your ideas, and honing your drawing skills. Most importantly, it's a place to experiment without the pressure of creating something final. Sketchbooks are for being messy and making mistakes because there is always the next page.

What keeps me motivated is drawing as much as possible. Creating a lot of terrible work that I don't show anyone. Keeping an "ugly" sketchbook where I can draw out ideas quickly for the sake of remembering it.

My inspiration comes from creating constantly. Eventually, an idea emerges that I'm really excited to delve further into. Inspiration isn't some magical thing to wait on, it comes from deliberate practice and demanding for it to show up.

My favorite materials are FW inks, gouache, and a 0.3 Graphgear lead pencil. I use Moleskine "Art Plus" sketchbooks the most because the paper is thick enough for layering and mixed media. I also like Muji Sketchbooks for traveling because they're cheap ($4), light, and cute!

Trying to have a perfect sketchbook can be paralyzing. Instead, focus on creating daily and making that habit stick. Have fun and enjoy the process! One of the best things about keeping a sketchbook is seeing your work progress and change over time.

My art, photographs and words represent many hours of creativity and hard work and they mean a lot to me. Please do not use them without my permission. If you're sharing on Pinterest or another, similar site, please give credit and link back to my site.